Pediatric Urology Research

Physician-scientists from the Division of Pediatric Urology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are actively involved in leading-edge pediatric urology research. Topics currently being investigated, include:

• Stem cells, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
• Etiology of human cryptorchidism (undescended testes)
• Nanotechnology
• Clinical outcomes
• Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

De Filippo Laboratory

Under the leadership of Roger De Filippo, MD, and Director of Research, Laura Perin, PhD, the Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology focuses on new uses of stem cells and other techniques for organ regeneration and cell therapeutics.

Current projects include kidney organ replacement techniques with stem cells, as well as, new stem cell therapy studies for lung and heart disease, diabetes and kidney diseases. The goal is to search for potential applications that could be used to prevent these diseases and/or significantly delay the damage they cause.

Perin L, Giuliani S, Jin D, Sedrakyan S, Carraro G, Habibian R, Warburton D, Atala A, De Filippo RE. (2007) Renal differentiation of amniotic fluid stem cells. Cell Prolif. Dec;40(6):936-48.

Giuliani S, Perin L, Sedrakyan S, Kokorowski P, Jin D, De Filippo R. (2008) Ex vivo whole embryonic kidney culture: a novel method for research in development, regeneration and transplantation. J Urol. Jan;179(1):365-70.

Carraro G, Perin L, Sedrakyan S, Giuliani S, Tiozzo C, Lee J, Driscoll B, Turcatel G, De Langhe SP, Bellusci S, Minoo P, Atala A, De Filippo RE, Warburton D. (2008) Human amniotic fluid stem cells can integerate and differntiate into epithelial lung lineages. Stem Cells. Nov; 26(11): 2902-11.

Da Sacco S, Sedrakyan S, Boldrin F, Parnigotto PP, Habibian R, Warburton D, De Filippo RE*, Perin L*. (2010) The systemic characterization of human amniotic fluid: a potential new source of organ specific precursor cells for future regenerative medicine applications J. Urology, in press. (Doctors De Filippo and Perin share last authorship.)

Perin L, Giuliani S, Sedrakyan S, Da Sacco S, Carraro G, Liron S, Lemley KV, Rosol M, Wu S, Atala A, Warburton D, De Filippo RE. (2010) Protective Effect of Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells in Acute Tubular Necrosis, PluS One, in press.

Koh Laboratory

The laboratory of Chester J. Koh, MD, has received National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, an American College of Surgeons Faculty Fellowship and foundation grants to study bladder tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Since current bladder replacement techniques involve the use of intestines as replacement tissue, causing significant complications and extended hospital stays, the lab's goal is to create bladder replacement segments from stem cells of individuals with end-stage bladder disease. Studies are being conducted to identify signaling pathways and mechanisms of bladder development and wound healing/regenerative medicine.

Koh CJ, Delo D, Lee JW, Siddiqui MM, Lanza RP, Soker S, Yoo JJ, and Atala A. Parthenogenesis-derived Multipotent Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications. Methods 47(2):90-7, 2009. PMCID: PMC2680210, NIHMS [92797]

Kang J, Ramu S, Lee S, Aguilar B, Ganesan SK, Yoo J, Kalra VK, Koh CJ, and Hong YK. Phosphate-Buffered Saline-Based Nucleofection of Primary Endothelial Cells. Analytical Biochemistry 386(2):251-5, 2009. PMCID: PMC2677097, NIHMS [98499]

Chung S, Kang DO, Yamzon J, Warburton D, and Koh CJ. Down-regulation of O-GlcNAc-mediated Glycosylation in Cyclophosphamide-induced Cystitis. Journal of Urology 183(1): 351-6, 2010. NIHMS [174567]

Yoo J, Kang J, Lee HN, Aguilar B, Kafka D, Lee S, Choi I, Lee J, Ramu S, Haas J, Koh CJ, and Hong YK. Kaposin-B enhances the PROX1 mRNA stability during lymphatic reprogramming of vascular endothelial cells by Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus. PLoS Pathog 6(8): e1001046, 2010.

Kang J, Yoo J, Lee S, Tang W, Aguilar B, Ramu S, Choi I, Otu HH, Shin JW, Dotto GP, Koh CJ, Detmar M, and Hong YK. An Exquisite Cross-Control Mechanism among Endothelial Cell Fate Regulators Directs the Plasticity and Heterogeneity of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells. Blood, 2010 Jul 8; 116(1):140-50. Epub 2010 Mar 29.

Parsa S, Kuremoto K, Seidel K, Tabatabai R, MacKenzie B, Yamaza T, Akiyama K, Branch J, Koh CJ, Alam DA, Klein OD, and Bellusci S. Signaling by FGFR2b Controls the Regenerative Capacity of the Adult Mouse Incisors. Development 137(22):3743-52, 2010.

Etiology of Human Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testes)

Victoria Cortessis, PhD, of the USC Department of Preventive Medicine and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Division of Pediatric Urology, are investigating the genetic causes of a common condition, cryptorchidism (undescended testes).

Nanotechnology

Andy Chang, MD, and Travis Williams, PhD, of the USC Department of Chemistry are currently studying nanoparticles to create a catheter-free diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. Eliminating the need for catheterization would cause a significant shift in diagnosing this condition. Their research can also be used in drug delivery to treat cancers in a more exact manner.

This study is supported by foundations grants, including a Wright Foundation grant to explore the use of their technology in cancer, and USC Zumberge Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation funding.

Clinical Research/Outcomes Research

Recognizing the need for improving the quality of care provided to children and adolescents with pediatric urologic issues, the Clinical and Outcomes Research Program, directed by Steve Kim, MD, MSCE, uses data to track performance and serve as a basis for continuous quality improvement to ensure that children receive the safest and most appropriate care for their condition.